Jodie Foster, the iconic actress who has graced the screen for decades, started her career in the late 1960s and quickly became a household name for her roles in films like “Taxi Driver.”
While her professional life was in the spotlight, she kept her personal life private for years.
In the 1990s, there were speculations about her sexuality in tabloids, but she chose to keep her personal life out of the public eye,
a common strategy for entertainers in the LGBTQ community at the time.
Foster’s strategy of maintaining privacy continued through the 1990s. In 1998, she became a mother, and three years later, she welcomed her second child. It wasn’t until 2013 that she decided it was time to be open about her personal life.
In 2013, while accepting an award for her contributions to the film industry, Jodie Foster decided to share her truth. She said, “I hope you’re not disappointed that there won’t be a big coming-out speech tonight because I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago back in the Stone Age.”
Foster revealed that she had been in a long-term relationship with producer Sidney Bernard from 1993 to 2008 and that they shared two sons. She expressed her gratitude to Bernard, calling her the best friend and co-parent of her children. Her two sons, Kit and Charlie, were present during this revelation and showed no surprise, as they had known their mother’s truth all along.
In the same year, Foster opened up about her current love, Alexandra Hedison, who is also an actress but transitioned to a career in photography. Hedison had previously dated Ellen DeGeneres from 2000 to 2004.
Foster and Hedison chose to keep their relationship private and secretly tied the knot in 2014. While they no longer hide their marriage, they still prefer a low-profile lifestyle. Their public appearances together are rare, but they did share a moment at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival when they held hands and kissed in front of the cameras.
In her 2021 Golden Globe acceptance speech, Foster publicly declared her love for her wife, Alexandra Hedison. She ended her speech with a kiss to her beloved spouse.
Jodie Foster’s journey to living authentically and openly is a heartening example of embracing one’s true self and love. Her openness inspires others to be true to themselves, regardless of their personal journey or orientation.
